Delta, Continental and Northwest to begin alliance June 18

EAGAN (AP) -- Northwest, Continental and Delta airlines announced Thursday that they'll begin the first phase of their alliance on June 18.

Under the alliance, passengers flying on any flights operated by the three airlines worldwide will be able to earn frequent flyer credits on any of the carriers -- whether the flights are code-shared or not. Members of the three airlines' lounge clubs also will enjoy reciprocal benefits.

Although customers will be able to accrue frequent flyer miles, they won't be able to redeem those miles on the other carriers until later this year. No date has been set for implementing that phase of the alliance.

Members of the airlines' frequent flyer programs will be able to earn miles on flights operated by any of the three carriers, including flights operated by Continental, Continental Express, Continental Micronesia; Delta, Delta Express, Delta Shuttle and Delta Connection carriers including ASA, Comair, ACA, SkyWest and Chautauqua; Northwest, and Northwest Airlink partner airlines Pinnacle Airlines and Mesaba Airlines.

At this time, flights operated by Northwest partner KLM are not included in the program. Delta's Song and Delta Connection flights operated by American Eagle also are not included.

The airlines expect the alliance to provide additional annual revenue.